Demystifying AI, Simple, Everyday Uses for Local Businesses

Written By Leanne Smith

Artificial Intelligence (AI) might feel like something reserved for Silicon Valley or giant corporations with big budgets and data teams. But AI isn’t just a futuristic concept anymore – it’s already helping local businesses streamline their operations, improve their marketing, and save time on repetitive tasks.

And no, you don’t need to be a tech expert or hire a developer to get started. If you know how to use a search engine, you can use AI.

What AI Really Means for Small Businesses

At its core, AI is just a tool that helps automate, predict or generate responses based on the information it has. It can analyse data, write copy, schedule tasks, respond to customer enquiries, and more. For small businesses, that opens the door to doing more with less, less time, less money, and less stress.

Create Content Faster

If writing social posts, emails, or blog articles always sinks to the bottom of your to-do list, AI can help. Tools like ChatGPT and Canva’s Magic Write feature allow you to brainstorm topics, draft content, and even repurpose existing material into new formats.

Simplify Customer Communication

AI-powered chatbots and autoresponders can handle the first line of customer service. They can respond to FAQs, book appointments, and collect details from leads – all without you lifting a finger. These tools are increasingly intuitive, giving your customers quick answers without sounding robotic.

Understand What’s Working

Many small businesses are sitting on useful data without realising it. AI-powered analytics tools can highlight which marketing channels are converting, what time your customers engage most, or which products are underperforming. This allows you to tweak your approach without guesswork.

Personalise Without the Hassle

AI can help tailor content or offers to your customers automatically. From dynamic email campaigns that adjust based on user behaviour, to tools that recommend the right product or service based on browsing habits, personalisation can now happen without hours of manual work.

While AI is incredibly powerful, it’s not a magic wand. It still needs human oversight. Make sure you sense-check anything it writes, and use it as a support tool, not a replacement for your voice or judgment.

Ready to Experiment? Here’s some useful links to get you started:

Content Creation and Marketing

  • ChatGPT: Write blog posts, social media captions, emails, and generate fresh ideas.

  • Canva Magic Write: Create on-brand content with AI-written text directly inside Canva designs.

  • Jasper: AI copywriting assistant tailored to marketing needs.

  • Copy.ai: Quickly draft marketing copy, emails, and product descriptions.

Customer Service and Communication

  • Tidio: AI-powered chatbot for answering FAQs and managing conversations on your website.

  • ManyChat: Automate messages on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

  • Zendesk AI: Smart customer support that grows with your business.

Analytics and Insights

Productivity and Automation

  • Zapier: Automate tasks between apps, like saving leads to a spreadsheet or sending follow-up emails.

  • Notion AI: Brainstorm, summarise, and organise business notes and content ideas.

  • Otter.ai: Transcribe meetings or voice memos and extract key insights.

Image and Video Creation

  • Pictory: Turn text or blogs into short videos for social media.

  • Runway ML: AI tools for editing videos and creating visuals.

  • Remove.bg: Instantly remove image backgrounds, ideal for product photos.

If you’re curious but unsure where to begin, start small. Try using AI to write a caption, summarise an article, or reply to a routine email. You’ll be amazed how quickly it becomes second nature.

At Bloombird Digital, we help local businesses take advantage of tools like AI without the jargon or overwhelm. Drop us a message if you’d like help working out where it can fit into your workflow.

Leanne Smith
Next

How to Use the 7Ps Marketing Mix